Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-04-08


ALBANY, n. Y, March 3l.--John God
frey SAKE, the poet, died here this after
noon. The burial will take place in the
Greenwood family lot in Brooklyn.
John Godfrey SAKE was born in High
gate, VT, June2, 1916, and graduated from
MiddIebury college in 1899. He was adj
mitted to the bar at St Adams in 1913,
and practiced law in his native county
till March, 1850, when removing to Bur
lington he purchased and for five years
published the Burlington Sentinel.
lie was repeatedly the democratic can
dldate for governor and in 1851 was elect
ed States attorney. AT the end of his
term of Office he took leave of the bar and
devoted himself wholly to literature and
lecturing. His earliest poems were pub
lished in the knickerbocker magazine in
1913; but his first poetical essay which
attracted much attention was Progress,
II satire" in 1916, which passed through
several editions.
Other publications which have appeared
Stories of Many Nations" 1868 Mosque
rade, 1866; Fables and Legends of Many
Countries" 1872 ;"Proud Miss Mcbride"
1873; and Leisure Day Rhymes" 1915,
For number of years past Mr.. Sake has
lived III Albany. His health failed some
years ago, lOllUWlnS an Injury received Ill
railroad accident, and he has been
great sufferer from hypochondria. OF
late his powers both of mind and body
have failed He married Miss Soace of
Highgate, who died number of years ago
and had several sons and daughters, all
but one of whomare dead. He was very
genial man, told an admirable story and
shone in conversation The volume of his
poems has had several editions.
In reviewing the career of the late John
Godfrey SAKE, the Boston HGrdld says:
From Burlington MIR. SAKE removed to
Albany in 1859 or 1860 and while residing
there in 1861 he visited Europe, accom-
panied by his wife. The time spent abroad
was not idled away, buG was productive
OF results which added to both his fame
and fortune.
His life in Albany, that is, the first
period of it, was full of the happiest and
most satisfactory days he ever spent He
was at the height of his fame, was well
provided with means, had the best society
at command, was happily situated in his
domestic surroundings aud dependencies,
having wife, three daughters and two
sons growing up, and was where he could
feel the pulse beat of public events with
out taking more part in them than he
chose TO take. 1t was during this period
that the popular lectures, as a source of
public education and as n replensher of
| literary men eXchequer, reached their
elimination. Mr.. SAKE was one of the
star lecturers of the day. No "lecture
course" in the cities and villages was
thought to include all the "attrac-
tions" unless the name of the fore
most poet of satire and humor was
upon the schedule He drew, in soma
parts of the country at least, equally well
with Wendell Phillips, George William
Curtis, Henry Ward Beecher Rev. b.. II
Chaplin, Anna r.. Dickinson and others
were kept on the 90 from early winter till
the May apples ripened in the spring
But Mr.. SAKE was not forcible lecturer
in prose, and his recitatons left his au
diences in a state of disappointment. He
held his place on the Lyceum courses
by virtue of the reputation his poetry
had secured him. a chance to see
and hear the author Of "Prout
Miss MacBride" was not one to be missed
by the lecture going people of the day
Those who sat before HIM rs spectators al
ways felt that the admission fee had beer
wise investment for Sake was hand
some man; but those who attended his
lectures as auditors craving a tonic for thu
intellectual department of their beinl
were sometimes puzzled to decide whether
they had gained or lost in the tone OF the!l
mental fibre.
Mr. SAKE, at his best physically "stoot
six feet two inches, proudly erect anC
muscular, with large, found and finely
poised head, set upon broad and stalwar
shoulders. The latest photographs of hin
show a broad, high forehead, wavy brown
hair large, keen eyes, set in deeply,
heavy moustache and side whiskers."